by
Sara Sims
Did you know there are over 210 billion dollars spent online each year? Consumers
are dodging traffic and long lines by making purchases online. With online sales
growing 50% faster than retail stores, it is important for coaches to offer
online payments on their websites. If your website doesn’t accept online
payments, you could be missing out on fulfilling the needs and demands of your
clients.
Let’s begin by choosing an electronic payment method. There are many
different electronic payment methods offered, but a trusted service I recommend
is PayPal. PayPal is a service that allows money transfers to be sent through
the Internet. Through PayPal, you can receive payments directly from your website
into your business bank account. Note that your clients do not need to have
a PayPal account in order to make a purchase right from your website.
To start using PayPal, go to PayPal.com and select one of their business plans.
I recommend the PayPal Payments Standard plan. This plan carries no monthly
fees and has a transaction rate of 2.9% plus 30 cents per transaction. This
pricing structure is standard among credit card processors. After you select
your plan, get started creating your account. Your account gives you access
to your PayPal information, payments received, privacy settings and banking
information.
Now that your PayPal account is set up, you can contact your web developer
to have it installed onto your website.
Setting up a PayPal account for your website will allow you to receive credit
card payments on your website. With 59% of customers preferring online bill
pay options to alternative options, your website will be adhering to your clients’
needs.
Online payment options also allow you to sell books, CDs and other materials
directly from your website, as well as coaching specials and packages. There
is no limit to the resources you can offer, and the different streams of revenue
you can receive. This means more value and convenience for your clients, and
more money for you!
Sara Sims is the Director of Business Development at CoachingWebsites.com.
CoachingWebsites offers a comprehensive website service designed just
for coaches that includes domain, hosting, design, content, SEO, credit
card processing, online appointment requests and more with no set-up
fees or long-term contracts for only $59 a month.
Member benefit: IAC members receive their first three months free. Log
into the members-only section for more details.
Not sure if you are aware that there are two thresholds that once surpassed, the rate taken out is lowered.
Over $10k in any given month, the following month is only 2.2%
Over $3k in any given month, the following month is only 2.5%
A person need only apply one time and the rate fluctuates according to the prior month automatically.